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Background - Food and nutrition insecurity severely compromises the quality of life in farm communities in South Africa. Although food‐based approaches are more sustainable strategies to address malnutrition, most other strategies only target the alleviation of single micronutrients. Synergies between nutrients demand a wider scope; food‐based strategies need to focus on improving both overall diet quality and the well‐being of rural and urban populations. Agricultural biodiversity is crucial in such strategies to improve food security and health. This thesis aims to investigate the effect of African leafy vegetables (ALVs) on the alleviation of micronutrient deficiencies in school children residing in the North West Province of South Africa. Methods - Four focus group discussions assessed primary caregivers’ (n=29) knowledge, perceptions and use of indigenous and traditional plants. Thereafter, the research focused on the leaves of Amaranthus cruentus (amaranth), Cleome gynandra (spiderplant), Cucurbita maxima (pumpkin) and Vigna unguiculata (cowpea). Sensory acceptability to children of selected ALV dishes, prepared in a traditional way (n=98) and prepared with gravy, was assessed (n=80). The nutrient composition and the bio‐accessibility of iron and zinc in these ALVs were determined. A randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of consumption of these ALVs on the iron, vitamin A en zinc status of primary school children (grade R – grade 4) followed. Children of two rural farm schools were randomly allocated per grade and school to receive either daily (five days/week) 300 gram cooked ALVs with the school meal starch (N=86) or the normal school meal (N=81) for three months. Results - Caregivers were positive about using ALVs, transferring knowledge from generation to generation. Children found dishes made with ALVs, prepared in the traditional way as well as with gravy, acceptable in terms of colour, smell and taste. ALVs contributed 11.6 ‐ 15.8 mg iron and 1.4 ‐ 3.7 mg zinc per meal. Amaranth‐and‐spiderplant has the highest amount of bio‐accessible iron (0.42 mg iron). All dishes contain 0.3 mg bio‐accessible zinc. At baseline, intervention and control children were deficient for Hb <11.5 g/dL (16.0% and 10.5%), serum ferritin <15 μg/L (16.3% and 18.5%), serum retinol <20 μg/dL (7.0% and 2.5%) and serum zinc <65 μg/dL (75.6% and 75.3%). No significant estimated intervention effect was found. Conclusion - Caregivers possessed knowledge of ALVs and were positive about their use. Based on dialyzable iron and zinc, the contribution of the ALV dishes towards dietary requirements is more substantial for iron than zinc. The randomised controlled trial showed that ALVs unable to improve serum retinol, serum ferritin or hemoglobin in mildly deficient children or those with low status zinc. Furthermore, despite the low zinc status in our population, ALV consumption did not improve serum zinc concentrations. Based on the more theoretical and indirect study results, including both caregivers’ and children’ positive image of ALVs, and the nutrient composition and iron and zinc bio‐accessibility of the ALVs, these selected vegetables do have the potential to contribute to the micronutrient intake of school children. However, the importance of ALVs might not necessary be to serve as a strategy for micronutrient deficiency alleviation, but rather in the diversification of the diet in resource‐poor settings and thereby contribute to the micronutrient intake. / PhD (Nutrition), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Background - Food and nutrition insecurity severely compromises the quality of life in farm communities in South Africa. Although food‐based approaches are more sustainable strategies to address malnutrition, most other strategies only target the alleviation of single micronutrients. Synergies between nutrients demand a wider scope; food‐based strategies need to focus on improving both overall diet quality and the well‐being of rural and urban populations. Agricultural biodiversity is crucial in such strategies to improve food security and health. This thesis aims to investigate the effect of African leafy vegetables (ALVs) on the alleviation of micronutrient deficiencies in school children residing in the North West Province of South Africa. Methods - Four focus group discussions assessed primary caregivers’ (n=29) knowledge, perceptions and use of indigenous and traditional plants. Thereafter, the research focused on the leaves of Amaranthus cruentus (amaranth), Cleome gynandra (spiderplant), Cucurbita maxima (pumpkin) and Vigna unguiculata (cowpea). Sensory acceptability to children of selected ALV dishes, prepared in a traditional way (n=98) and prepared with gravy, was assessed (n=80). The nutrient composition and the bio‐accessibility of iron and zinc in these ALVs were determined. A randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of consumption of these ALVs on the iron, vitamin A en zinc status of primary school children (grade R – grade 4) followed. Children of two rural farm schools were randomly allocated per grade and school to receive either daily (five days/week) 300 gram cooked ALVs with the school meal starch (N=86) or the normal school meal (N=81) for three months. Results - Caregivers were positive about using ALVs, transferring knowledge from generation to generation. Children found dishes made with ALVs, prepared in the traditional way as well as with gravy, acceptable in terms of colour, smell and taste. ALVs contributed 11.6 ‐ 15.8 mg iron and 1.4 ‐ 3.7 mg zinc per meal. Amaranth‐and‐spiderplant has the highest amount of bio‐accessible iron (0.42 mg iron). All dishes contain 0.3 mg bio‐accessible zinc. At baseline, intervention and control children were deficient for Hb <11.5 g/dL (16.0% and 10.5%), serum ferritin <15 μg/L (16.3% and 18.5%), serum retinol <20 μg/dL (7.0% and 2.5%) and serum zinc <65 μg/dL (75.6% and 75.3%). No significant estimated intervention effect was found. Conclusion - Caregivers possessed knowledge of ALVs and were positive about their use. Based on dialyzable iron and zinc, the contribution of the ALV dishes towards dietary requirements is more substantial for iron than zinc. The randomised controlled trial showed that ALVs unable to improve serum retinol, serum ferritin or hemoglobin in mildly deficient children or those with low status zinc. Furthermore, despite the low zinc status in our population, ALV consumption did not improve serum zinc concentrations. Based on the more theoretical and indirect study results, including both caregivers’ and children’ positive image of ALVs, and the nutrient composition and iron and zinc bio‐accessibility of the ALVs, these selected vegetables do have the potential to contribute to the micronutrient intake of school children. However, the importance of ALVs might not necessary be to serve as a strategy for micronutrient deficiency alleviation, but rather in the diversification of the diet in resource‐poor settings and thereby contribute to the micronutrient intake. / PhD (Nutrition), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Este trabalho objetivou estudar e descrever as relações multiespécies que contribuem para que se mantenha a existência da mandioca junto aos Pataxó no entorno do Monte Pascoal, no Sul da Bahia, num contexto de transformação e \"modernização\" da agricultura local. Ele foi inspirado na ideia de que a diversificação e manutenção da mandioca se dá dentro de contextos históricos de seu envolvimento contínuo com diversos seres e coisas, ou seja, mediante suas ações ambientalmente situadas. A hipótese central levantada é que a diversidade de mandiocas existentes ocorre através de um conjunto de relações sócio-ecológicas no qual os humanos são parte importante. Através da metodologia proposta pela etnografia multiespécie foram apresentadas primeiramente cinco histórias no intuito de mostrar como a mandioca está envolvida em relações múltiplas com os Pataxó e outros seres, que envolvem afetos, memórias, conhecimentos, práticas, política, nas quais ela se destaca como uma espécie companheira com a qual se tem coevoluido. A partir dessas histórias, foram indicadas e descritas as temporalidade de seu modo de vida e as práticas que se destacaram como importantes na existência e permanência dessa planta na região, evidenciando as assembleias que se formaram e suas consequências na vida da mandioca e de seus companheiros Pataxó. O estudo aponta para a resiliência na diversidade de mandioca ao longo do tempo na região, porém em menor quantidade e qualidade, evidenciando uma precarização de determinadas relações, as quais passam a demandar atenção ao se pensar na elaboração de estratégias de conservação da agrobiodiversidade junto com os Pataxó no Monte Pascoal. / This work aimed to study and describe the multi-species relationships that contribute to maintain the existence of cassava with the Pataxó surrounding the Monte Pascoal, in Southern Bahia, in a context of transformation and \"upgrading\" of local agriculture. It was inspired by the idea that diversification and maintenance of cassava takes place within historical contexts of their continuing involvement with various beings and things, that is, through its environmentally situated actions. The central hypothesis is that the diversity of cassava can not be seen only as genetic resources (which suffer natural selection) not only as the result of human management (artificial selection and the symbolic constructions), but as a set of relationships socio- ecological in which humans are an important part. Through the methodology proposed by the multispecies ethnography were presented five stories in order to show how cassava is involved in multiple relationships with the Pataxó and other beings, involving emotions, memories, knowledge, practices, politics, in which it stands as a specie partner with who it has co-evolved. From these stories was demonstrated and described the temporality of their way of life and practices that stood out as important in the existence and permanence of this plant in the region, highlighting the meetings that formed and its consequences in cassava life and his companions Pataxó. The study points to the resilience in cassava diversity over time in the region, but in smaller quantities and quality, showing a precariousness of certain relationships, which begin to demand attention when thinking about the development of the agro-biodiversity conservation strategies with Pataxó in Monte Pascoal.

Este trabalho objetivou estudar e descrever as relações multiespécies que contribuem para que se mantenha a existência da mandioca junto aos Pataxó no entorno do Monte Pascoal, no Sul da Bahia, num contexto de transformação e \"modernização\" da agricultura local. Ele foi inspirado na ideia de que a diversificação e manutenção da mandioca se dá dentro de contextos históricos de seu envolvimento contínuo com diversos seres e coisas, ou seja, mediante suas ações ambientalmente situadas. A hipótese central levantada é que a diversidade de mandiocas existentes ocorre através de um conjunto de relações sócio-ecológicas no qual os humanos são parte importante. Através da metodologia proposta pela etnografia multiespécie foram apresentadas primeiramente cinco histórias no intuito de mostrar como a mandioca está envolvida em relações múltiplas com os Pataxó e outros seres, que envolvem afetos, memórias, conhecimentos, práticas, política, nas quais ela se destaca como uma espécie companheira com a qual se tem coevoluido. A partir dessas histórias, foram indicadas e descritas as temporalidade de seu modo de vida e as práticas que se destacaram como importantes na existência e permanência dessa planta na região, evidenciando as assembleias que se formaram e suas consequências na vida da mandioca e de seus companheiros Pataxó. O estudo aponta para a resiliência na diversidade de mandioca ao longo do tempo na região, porém em menor quantidade e qualidade, evidenciando uma precarização de determinadas relações, as quais passam a demandar atenção ao se pensar na elaboração de estratégias de conservação da agrobiodiversidade junto com os Pataxó no Monte Pascoal. / This work aimed to study and describe the multi-species relationships that contribute to maintain the existence of cassava with the Pataxó surrounding the Monte Pascoal, in Southern Bahia, in a context of transformation and \"upgrading\" of local agriculture. It was inspired by the idea that diversification and maintenance of cassava takes place within historical contexts of their continuing involvement with various beings and things, that is, through its environmentally situated actions. The central hypothesis is that the diversity of cassava can not be seen only as genetic resources (which suffer natural selection) not only as the result of human management (artificial selection and the symbolic constructions), but as a set of relationships socio- ecological in which humans are an important part. Through the methodology proposed by the multispecies ethnography were presented five stories in order to show how cassava is involved in multiple relationships with the Pataxó and other beings, involving emotions, memories, knowledge, practices, politics, in which it stands as a specie partner with who it has co-evolved. From these stories was demonstrated and described the temporality of their way of life and practices that stood out as important in the existence and permanence of this plant in the region, highlighting the meetings that formed and its consequences in cassava life and his companions Pataxó. The study points to the resilience in cassava diversity over time in the region, but in smaller quantities and quality, showing a precariousness of certain relationships, which begin to demand attention when thinking about the development of the agro-biodiversity conservation strategies with Pataxó in Monte Pascoal.